The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-07-01

bot what tho census taker has the right -
make the change . - TO express the wish Of
the voter. So do if the census taker. n
writing TIE nasae or age Of . voter, or giving
tho date Of hin arrival N the county, when the
census was being taken, should make q mistake,
there 10 ~ reason why II could not be corrected
90 a. to sAow the fact. In short, it is clear N
my mind that the Law intends that the evidence,
should be presented to your Exccllency show
ing II other than authorized persons. or the.
legal custodian Of the book should illegally or
fraudaleutay make entries in said book, by
adding naiAes thereto, or changing the names;
Of some individuals who had voted. or make
any other material alterations, or il the census
taker should act fraudulently and corruptly
and change the name and expression Of the
voter, or odd thereto names Of persons not en-
titled 70 vote, with . view Of perverting the ex-
preston Of The people: then. in that event, zee
would not take the census returns, rs turned -
by the census txker, as the definite expression
Of the people.
TN answer TO ysur secosd proposition ! Will
say that am Of the opinion that the censuS
taker may, upon the authority Of the voter him.
self, change his expression for county scat up
On the f0ce Of the original book where his choice
was first recorded II q time prior to the final
close Of his taking Of the census In the county.
Your third proposition ] have answered il the
FIRST. 70 your fourth proposition will say that.
unless 1t should appear to your Excellency that
the changes made upon the face Of the return Of
the original book by some other person than
the census tsker. or made by the census taker
fraudulensly and corruptly, or Or fraudulent
and corrupt purposes. then it would not be SUI
fcient to overthrow the return made by the
census talser.
I'm answer u your nth proposition will
say that II the census taker has proceeded to
take the census OF an unorganized county and
has fixed No date for the basis OF his census, but
has continued TO take the census on until he
fixes the dsas on which he will close his books
and cease - take the census, then, in that
event, changes made by him, by request OF legal
voters who have voted prior to the day he has
fixed for closing his record. would be legal: In
other words, II No day is fixed by the census
takcr ut the time he commences his work, the,
election IL continuous until he closes the rec
ord. Yours very respectfully,
49, b. BRADFORD, Acknowledgement"
After full and patient consideration Of ain
the evidence presented to me touching the work
of the census taker appointed for Stanton County.
and OF the returns made by him Of the census,
and the election for temporary county seat, asd.
Of the law governing the organination Of new
counties, an convinced that while Mr.. Cotter-
man may be fairly charged with some errors OF
Judgment. Aone Of these were material. and that.
his duties were discharged with thorough dill
gcnce. impaztiality and honesty, and with rea-
sonable eorefulness and skin.
All contests over the location of . county seaS
arc attended with extreme excitement and bit
tcrnoss, aaa the defeated party invariably
enAsgcs Vie successful contestants with the gross
est irregularities, fraud and corruption. These
charges are. in many instances, honestly f1adH.
and tirmly believed by those making them. But
VIC passions evoked BY such contests are usu-
ally 20 intense that few Of the parties engaged
are rigidly sernpu,eus in the methods employed.
70 eouspsxs their ends, and it may be acceptecs
Is tsct that 10th. or sil the contesting points,
exhaust MI means, fair or unfair, 70 secure,
Succesa.
In this case no person interested in Stanton
County, either directly or indirectly, recon-
nended Mr.. Cotterman's appointment rs census
takE. nor did he apply for an appointment in
that county. He Is well known citizen Oh
Usage County, has occupied several positions OF
trust and honor in that community, and enjoys
among his fellow citizens an excellent reputAr
ton for honesty and integrity. He made oath
before entering upon the duties Of his position.
that he was not interested in Stanton County.
directly q indirectly. and would not become IN
terested in said county during his official term.
His returns afe made under oath, and during ..
prolonged and exciting contest concerning
them, heard before me In the presence Of A.
his explanation Of his report, Of the changes
made in il, and the reasons for such changes,
and his answers TO all questions pus to him.
were remarkably frank, full and cOnvincfsE
II was evident that he had NO disposition to-
conceal any thing connected with his work. nor
70 deny such errors of Judgment As he may
have made, nor 70 shirk from the most rigid
scrutiny Of al his Official arts.
Supporting the census takers return 0f the
election by the legal voters Of Stanton County,
are the schedules Of Personal property. There
are. on file in this ef1oe, 750 such schedules. On
SIS of these the preference Of the persons maxi
ing such returns IL expressed on the location Of
the county seat, and 4O7 are sworn to By the
voter. o. the returns sworn to 299 express D.
preference for johnson City. 1O4 for Eli and ~
for West Haven, and Of those not sworn IL ex-
press q preference for johnson City, 43 for Eli
and for West Haven-making a total Of S4l
for johnson City, 147 for Hi and q for West
Haven.
In view Of all these facts presented TO me. I
am convinced that the returns made by tho
census taker should be accepted as the definite
expression Of the legal voters Of Stanton County
for the location Of the temporary county seat.
do not believe that the evidence challenging
the accuracy or integrity Of this report is SUI
fcent to justify q belief that it was either
''tampered with and changed" By an unauthor-
lied person. nor that it was 'tampered with
and changed" BY the census taker, fraudulently
or corrupfly, with view Of preventing the fair
expression and choice of the legal voters Of
Stanton County.
The report Of the census taker for Stanton.
County is hereby approved, and proclamation OF:
the organization Of Stanton County, in accord
ance Herewith, will be made.
JOHN A. MARTIN, Governor.